"Streaking The Nation"
by Chris Bello - CanesTime Magazine
February 2003 - Issue #7


Say it with me – 34 in a row. 845 days between Miami losses. Two years, three months and four days to be exact. Hurricane fans tuned in weekly to see if their beloved team would inch one step further into the record books with this special team. Opponents watched, green with envy at what Miami was accomplishing. Many remember the Canes as a program with great success in the eighties and early nineties. A 58-home game win streak and a handful of recent National Championships, but most recently as a program feeling the ill effects of probation. Instead Miami is back with a vengeance and rewriting history all over again. Cane haters make way.

On its own, “The Streak” sounds like an amazing feat. Stepping back from it and taking note of what happened around our nation while it was business as usual in Coral Gables, it is truly mind-blowing.

“The Streak” began against the Mountaineers on September 23rd, 2000. Miami was fourteen days removed from the stunning loss at Washington and looking to get that bitter taste out of their mouths. The nation was standing around the water coolers talking about “Survivor” or Budweiser’s new “Wassup” campaign. Playstation 2 was brand new, Bill Clinton was in office, Elian Gonzalez recently went back to Cuba and “Who Let The Dogs Out” flooded the airwaves.

Harry Potter was merely a book and the crash in the economy was blamed on the dot.com implosion. Dan Marino retired, USA baseball upset Cuba for gold and RU-486 won approval. Down in Miami “The Streak” was a baby, standing at two with road wins at West Virginia and Rutgers.

October 2000 brought the Bush/Gore debates. Clinton signed the China trade bill, Barry Bonds hit #73 while the Yankees won the Subway Series with the Mets. Napster still offered free music, one Russian and two Americans were launched into orbit as the first occupants of an international base and Miami Heat center Alonzo Mourning announced his kidney disorder.

The Canes tallied three more wins – the dethroning of the defending champs and current #1 Florida State, lowly Temple and next year’s season opener Louisiana Tech. No focus was being put on a streak. A win against the Seminoles proved the Canes were back. They got the “W” and the floodgates were open.

November 2000 gave us Hillary Clinton as New York senator and Dubya edged out former Vice President Gore 19 days after the fact. Other sports news had Alabama’s Mike Dubose and West Virginia’s legendary Don Nehlen retiring at season’s end.

Miami was pressing on towards a shot at a National Championship. With a 6-1 record and a #3 ranking the Canes would prepare for a four week stretch with #2 Virginia Tech, Pittsburgh, Syracuse and the season finale against Boston College. All tests were passed and while a 10-1 record was achieved, an Orange Bowl snub was forthcoming. Miami would go on to play #7 Florida in the 2001 Sugar Bowl. The Canes rolled but were left unfulfilled. Had #2 Florida State knocked off #1 Oklahoma, a split championship was in the cards. True to form, the Noles collapsed in the 13-2 snoozer. A shot at the title would be Miami’s lone goal for 2001 and the entire off-season was spent preparing for next year’s twelve game stretch.

Between seasons the world kept busy. “Survivor II” debuted, Tom and Nicole split and the AOL/Time Warner merger was approved. Casey Martin would take his golf cart case to the Supreme Court, Rae Carruth was convicted for murder and Oklahoma State experienced tragedy when a plane crash took the lives of student athletes and staff. The Baltimore Ravens won Super Bowl XXXV and days after Miami’s Butch Davis jumped ship on a Hurricane team loaded with promise. Larry Coker would take the reigns and the team would press on landing some stellar recruits and preparing for a title run.

February through August would bring even more history.

Dale Earnhardt’s death, Napster’s crumble, Clinton’s pardons, Troy Aikman’s retirement and Bob Knight’s rebirth. There was Mourning’s short-lived return to the NBA and the short-lived life span of the XFL. We saw Mariah Carey meltdown, Jack Lemmon’s passing and terrorist bombing foreshadowing what this country would experience in a few short months.

Charlton Jimerson sparked the Canes to a 12-1 win over Stanford in the College World Series, Oklahoma City Bomber Timothy McVeigh’s execution, Cal Ripken Jr.’s final All Star Game and Lance Armstrong capturing another Tour de France. Tennis stars Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi announced a future prodigy’s birth in December.

Heat strokes and summer practice conditions kept professional and college football in the news when Florida’s Eraste Autin, Northwestern’s Rashidi Wheeler and the Minnesota Viking’s Korey Stringer all passed away doing what they loved most.

The House voted to ban human cloning, Aaliyah died in a plane crash, Little Leaguer Danny Almonte was ruled ineligible when his age was discovered and the publishing rights to the Clinton Memoirs sold for $10 million.

In Coral Gables, the Canes were preparing for a run for the roses as the Rose Bowl would host the 2001 National Championship game.

The 2001 season would kick off on September 1st with a trip to Happy Valley where Miami would dominate Penn State. A week later the Canes routed Rutgers and began preparations for a revenge game against Washington’s Huskies.

The terrorist attacks of 9/11 would put all of that on hold.

The nation and sports world came to a standstill. MLB postponed its full slate of regular-season games for the first tine since 1944. College football was postponed indefinitely. Exacting revenge against Washington would wait. Play resumed on September 27th for the Canes. A 19-day layoff ended with the thirteenth win of “The Streak,” at Pittsburgh.

October brought the annual FSU match-up. First, Miami would take down Troy State in an appetizer game. A week later the Canes traveled to Tallahassee thumped the Noles in Doak Campbell. The last team to do so – Miami in 1991. October ended with a rain soaked affair and win #16 against West Virginia.

The rest of the world saw Michael Jordan slipping into a Wizards uniform, Anthrax sweeping the nation, JoPa chalking up win No. 324 and O.J. beating another case – this time for road rage.

George Harrison passed on in November. Arizona’s Diamondbacks knocked off the New York Yankees in Game 7, Mark McGwire’s retired from MLB and unemployment reached a five year high. Miami Football prepared for a thrilling month as a Hurricanes/Huskies rematch was scheduled for the 24th. Leading up to that blowout Miami would knock off Temple, survive Boston College and pound #14 Syracuse before exacting complete revenge against #12 Washington.

One last challenge before packing for Pasadena – knocking off Virginia Tech in Blacksburg on December 1st. Eric Crouch would win the Heisman, Winona was arrested for shoplifting, Bob Davie got the axe at ND and Enron filed for bankruptcy.

Miami routed #2 Nebraska on January 3rd for their fifth National Championship. Ty Willingham took over Notre Dame by default, Spurrier attempted to take the Fun N’ Gun and some washed up Gators to the NFL and author Steven King announced his retirement.

New England’s Patriots shocked the St. Louis Rams in and Raiders’ coach Jon Gruden took his skills and scowl to Tampa Bay. NBA former star Jayson Williams was charged with manslaughter. Wall Street Journalist Daniel Pearl was confirmed dead at the hands of ruthless terrorists.

The rest of Miami’s off season would be chock full of history.

Ricky Williams slept with the Fish while Britain’s Queen Mum passed away at 101. Clinton would no longer sweat Whitewater, Tiger would win his third green jacket, Robert Blake pleaded guilty to killing his wife and America was introduced to Yao Ming. Caminiti spilled the beans on steroids in baseball while suicide bombers wreaked havoc overseas. Spider-Man dominated the box office.

The Lakers would three-peat, U.S. made noise at the World Cup, Endeavor took flight and scientists discovered a new planet. Youthful pitcher Darryl Kile was found dead, legend Ted Williams moved on and Bud Selig would called the All Star game at 7-7. Armstrong took his fourth consecutive Tour de France and the stock market plunged to its lowest level since the 9/11 attacks.

Terrell retired from the Broncos – making way for former Cane and Rookie of the Year Clinton Portis. US Airways filed for bankruptcy and MLB averted a strike that would’ve been costly. Miami kicked off their 2002 campaign with a routing of Florida A&M. “The Streak” grew to 23 while UM prepared for its first trip to Gainesville since 1986.

Miami spanked #6 Florida, Temple and Boston College in September while Serena took down Venus in the U.S. Open. Patrick Ewing retired, Tim Montgomery became World’s Fastest Man and the country was on “high alert” due to terrorist activity.

In October as Miami defeated FSU on another missed field goal after a warm up win against Connecticut. West Virginia gave the Canes a game two weeks later but it resulted in Miami win #29. In our nation’s capital a pair of snipers struck fear into local residents. In Anaheim, a Rally Monkey propelled the California Angels to a Game 7 victory over the San Francisco Giants.

In November Winona was found guilty, a vaccine preventing cervical cancer was proven effective and the Canes went on a four game tear. A road win at Rutgers, a statement game at Tennessee, a Thursday night affair with Pittsburgh and another rout of Syracuse. “The Streak” stood at 33 straight but all eyes were on a regular season finale with Virginia Tech on December 7th.

True to form, the Canes pulled it out in dramatic fashion. The Fiesta Bowl invite was extended and Miami prepared for another championship game. Carson Palmer would beat out Dorsey and McGahee for the Heisman. Brett Romberg, winner of the Rimington, was the only Cane with postseason accolades. Not a tear shed, though. Team glory is the ultimate glory in Coral Gables.

History came to an abrupt halt on January 3rd, 2003. Miami let one slip away – or had it stolen. Regardless, now is neither the time nor place to focus on the loss. It would eventually happen, it did and its time to celebrate the amazing feat Miami accomplished. Wherever you are, set down this magazine, stand up and give this team a rousing ovation. They deserve nothing less.

Miami’s 34 straight came in an era where college football doesn’t allow such a thing. Oklahoma amassed 47 straight from 1953-57. Next best – Washington’s 39 from 1908-14. Yale got to 37 twice early in the 19th century and Toledo got to 35 straight from 1969-71. The Canes did it from 2000-02 when it was unthinkable. With all the dominance the sport has seen in recent decades, no one else even came close. On this, Miami stands alone. It might never be matched and will forever be remembered and respected.

Two years, three months and four days between losses. The world witnessed several miniscule and gigantic occurrences in that span. In Miami, we saw it all and then some. Thirty-four in a row – something we’ll cherish forever. It’s a Canes thing…

Born and raised in Miami, FL and a CanesTime.com columnist since 1996, Chris Bello now resides in San Diego, CA and handling online sales and providing content for allCanes.com. Feel free to send your comments or to contact him at chris@allCanes.com